Stopcock for medical assemblies



Patented ug. 31, 1954 ED STATES ATENT CFFICE STOPCOCK FOR MEDICALASSEMBLIES Application November 7, 1950, Serial No. 194,529

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a stopcock particularly intended for use inmedical assemblies and by means of which the flow of liquid may becontrolled at the will of the operator.

It is an object of the invention to furnish a device of this characterwhich may be economically produced and which will include relatively fewparts, each individually simple and rugged in construction, such partsbeing capable of ready assemblage to furnish a unit operating over longperiods of time with freedom from all diiculties.

A further object is that of furnishing a stopcock the parts of which mayreadily be operated, such parts remaining in the positions to which theyhave been adjusted and the assembly functioning over long periods oftime with freedom from all diiculties.

With these and other objects in mind reference is had to the attachedsheet of drawings illustrating practical embodiments of the inventionand in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a syringe assembly showing a stopcockassociated therewith and by means of which a ow of iiuid to and from areceptacle shown in section may be controlled;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken along the lines 2 2 and in thedirection of the arrows as indicated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan View taken along the lines 3 3 and in thedirection of the arrows as also indicated in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional side view taken along line l-t and in thedirection of the arrows as indicated in Fig. 2.

Referring primarily to Fig. 1 the numeral 5 indicates a syringe barrelof conventional construction and with which a plunger 6 may cooperate toexpel or aspirate fluid. A needle is intended for connection with thesyringe assembly and may, in the usual manner, include a body 'I towhich a hub 8 is secured. As shown a stopcock is interposed between thesyringe barrel and the needle. For purposes of illustration that valveassembly has been shown as connected to a tube 9 extending through to areceptacle l0. The lower end of the tube may be weighted as at l l so asto remain adjacent the base of the receptacle IB.

The body l2 of the unit is provided as shown with extensions i3 and i4,which are bored to provide passages. A further extension l isconveniently furnished with a ange i6 similar to the hub of the needle.Extension i3 is preferably of such configuration that it may extend (asshown in Fig. l) into and mount the needle hub. Extension l5 is alsoformed with a bore. The

asi- 181) inner ends of all of the bores extend through to a valvechamber, If extension I5 is formed as illustrated it may readily beassociated with or removed from the coupling mounted at the nose portionof the barrel. If no coupling is so provided then extension iii may haveits structure modied to include suitable seating surfaces. Extension idmay be formed so as to receive and retain the end of tube 9.

The valve chamber as shown especially in Fig. 4 is tapered in a downwarddirection and receives a tapered plug il, the length of which is lessthan the length of the bore. rlhe upper end of body Il is formed with aflange or headed portion i3. Beyond this the plug provides a stem I9 towhich a handle 29 is secured. That handle preferably has as an integralpart a forward and downwardly projecting portion 2i. The end of thelatter rides within an arcuate recessed surface formed on the upper faceof body i2. Such surface preferably terminates in line with the planewhich intersects the axis of the bore and valve body il.

That body is provided with a transverse passage 22 and an intersectinglaterally extending passage 23. Such an arrangement of passages willusually prevail where the stopcocl: embraces three outlets for bores asillustrated in the present views. It will be apparent that if only apair of bore extensions or outlets is involved then only the passage 22will be necessary. Conversely, if a greater number of passages thanherein illustrated are involved in the stopcock assembly, then thepassages through the valve body may also include a greater number thanthose herewith shown.

In order to retain the valve body in position within the tapered bore ofbody l2, the present invention contemplates the use of a coupling memberwhich may readily be associated with or detached from the assembly. Thatcoupling member preferably takes the form of a strip of resilient orspringy metal which is bent into a generally U-shape. One arm 24 of thisunit may embrace a length greater than the width of body portion l2, Itsouter end conveniently terminates in a laterally extending part 25providing a detent or restraining portion extending around the basecorner of body I2. The base 26 of the strip is perforated so thatextension E5 may pass therethrough. As shown at 2l in Fig. 3 it may becontoured to conform to the adjacent side faces of body portion l2. Thelength of base portion 26 is in excess of the height of body I2 and arm28 of the strip is accordingly curved or bent to extend in a directionconverging with respect to arm 24.

Arm 28 terminates in a forked portion 29, the fingers or ends of whichpreferably curve upwardly to a slight degree as indicated at 3!! As isapparent, extension I5 may be introduced through the opening in baseportion 25 so that this part of the strip lies in intimate contact withthe side face of body I2. When so positioned arm 24 will lie immediatelyadjacent the base of that body and detent or latch 25 will restrain theparts from moving accidentally with respect to each other. The fingersof forked portion 29 Will glide over the upper surface of flange I8 andyieldingly bear against such surface. The length of body I'I and itsgeneral contour being such that its inner portion does not extend belowthe base of body I2, it follows that the yielding engagement of the clipmember bearing against flange I8 will cause the valve body to bemaintained in fully seated position within the tapered bore of theassembly. In such position a leakproof connection will be furnished. Aswill also be apparent the clip member may readily be detached from theassembly. Under those circumstances valve body II may be freelywithdrawn from the bore of body I2. Thereafter, the parts may again beassembled with facility. As a consequence of this structure it isunnecessary to, for example, form the lower face of valve body I'I witha. threaded recess, introduce a screw into that recess, employ a washeror other element, etc. etc. in order to maintain the assembly of theparts. Rather, as afore brought out, the parts will be maintained inassembled condition under all circumstances while at the same time beingcapable of ready separation and reassembly by deliberate manipulation ofthe operator. Also the present structure will serve to automaticallytake up any wear which may occur in that it serves constantly to urgevalve body II into the bore of the valve housing.

If the unit is to be employed as shown in Fig. 1 then extension I5 maybe coupled with the nose of syringe barrel 5 to establish a fluid tightseal. Tube 9 may be connected to extension I4. Needle 'I is mounted uponextension I3. Now, by suitable shifting handle 20, liquid may, forexample, be drawn through the bore of cannula 'I into the barrel 5 ofthe syringe if plunger 6 is retracted. Therefore, with handle 20 againshifted, this liquid may be discharged through extension I4 and tube 9into receptacle IIJ. Another mode of operation would involve, forexample, leaving the handle in the position to which it has last beenadjusted and retracting plunger 6. Under these circumstances liquidwould be drawn from receptacle I0 into barrel 5. Thereupon, by shiftinghandle 20 that liquid could be discharged through extension I3 andthence through the bore of the cannula if a needle were mounted on thatextension. Various other methods of operation and application of thestopcock will be obvious.

As the valve body rotates its movements will be limited by engagement ofthe projecting portion 2I with the ends of the recess formed on the faceof body I2. As Will be noted in Fig. 4 the lower end of the valvechamber has its maximum point of constriction short of the lower surfaceof body I2. By such structure the plug I'I will not wear a groove in theotherwise tapered seat surface.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specificallyafore noted are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in constructionand rearrangement of the parts might be resorted to without departingfrom the spirit of the invention as defined by the claim.

I claim:

A stopcock including in combination a housing body formed with atransverse and flared bore, an extension projecting from Said housing, atapered valve unit rotatable in said bore and sealingly engaging thesurface of the latter, said unit having an outer end disposed adjacentthe surface of said body, said extension and body being formed withpassages and said unit being formed with a transverse opening toestablish communication between said passages when said valve is rotatedto a predetermined position within said bore, a U- shaped spring havingits base formed with an opening, said base bearing against the outerface of said housing and conforming to the same with said extensionprojecting through said base opening, a forked portion comprising onearm of said spring and slidably bearing against the outer end of saidunit with its fingers disposed one to each side of the axis of rotationof the latter, the second arm of said spring bearing against thatsurface of the housing body opposite to the one adjacent which the outerend of said unit is disposed, the length of such second arm beinggreater than the adjacent surface of the housing body and a detentportion formed adjacent the outer end of said latter arm to override theedge of said housing body and thus retain said spring in position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 854,007 Ullmann May 21, 1907 930,017 Yankauer Aug. 3, 19091,505,729 Robertshaw Aug. 19, 1924 1,858,054 Miller May 10, 19322,074,355 Bates Mar. 22, 1937 2,255,543 Fisher Sept. 9, 1941 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 241,668 Great Britain 1925 365,908 GreatBritain Jan. 28, 1932

